Invitation to Modi is not his endorsement: UK

The UK government has cleared the air over an invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to visit the country by some British parliamentarians, saying the invitation does not mean an endorsement of the BJP leader.

Speaking on the issue, British High Commissioner James Bevan said the invitation was extended only by a few parliamentarians and was not a decision that had been taken by the British government.

“A few parliamentarians have invited Modi to UK but the UK government has not invited him. It is a part of my job to meet influential people in India and I was just doing the job that I am being paid for,” he said.

Bevan added that the British government was still very much concerned about the human rights violations during the 2002 Gujarat riots when Modi was the chief minister.